Milton is still chief-less

MILTON  The Milton Police Department remains without a leader this morning despite a 90-minute closed session of the Milton Police Commission.

Today was the first time the commission met after former Chief Tom Gilland became eligible for rehiring, yet the commission took no action.

Gilland retired Jan. 7, and the city announced soon after that it was considering rehiring Gilland as chief after the 30-day waiting period required by law for him to remain eligible to receive retirement benefits.

On Jan. 15, the Milton City Council drafted a contract to offer Gilland if the police commission reappoints him. He became eligible to enter a contract with the city Feb. 7.

Still, the police commission showed no indications itís examining other candidates for the job. The city directed Administrator Todd Schmidt to solicit proposals from consulting firms to aid in a chief search soon after Gilland announced his retirement in December, but no firm has been hired.

Schmidt received about five proposals and turned them over to the police commission.

The city has received no resumes for the chief job and wouldnít be reviewing them if it did, Schmidt said.

The police commission has appointed no interim chief, relying instead on the departmentís two sergeants to lead with the assistance of David Ostrowski, a commission member and former UW-Parkside police chief.

The commission scheduled its next meeting for 7:30 a.m. Thursday, March 6.